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The war effort — today that is an archaic term. There is no doubt that our nation is at war in the Middle East. And there are many families who have been directly impacted by it. But for the rest of us, it is a remote thing to be watched on the television. We make no sacrifices, we attend no rallies, we donate no time to making our boys more comfortable. One hundred years ago, it was not so.

During the lead-up to the recent special legislative session over the state budget and a tax hike, Gov. Bruce Rauner’s staff studied whether their boss had the power to force legislators to attend the sessions.

Most of my gentle readers know of the disastrous coal strike of 1877. The miners went on strike for higher pay, black men and their families were brought in to work the mines during the strike, the white miners drove the black people out of town, the governor declared a state of emergency and sent in the militia to restore order. Where did this militia come from? Why, from just up the tracks in Joliet.

By 1904 the sight of a horseless carriage, better known as an automobile, became common on the streets of Wilmington. It was in August of that year that a cavalcade of 5,000 automobiles passed near the Island City on their way from Chicago to Pontiac. That was all it took for the automobile bug to bite, and it was E. W. Steinhart who helped scratched the itch

Ah, summer! The time for vacations and weekend travel to fun places. Look on the internet to find the perfect spot, book a hotel on your phone, get reviews from others who have stayed there, get directions as to the quickest route and exactly how much time it will take to get there. But it was not always so. The first white settlers to come to this area had to rough it. Today we look at “hotels” of the early 19th century.

In the end, Mike "Z" Zolnierowicz had only one choice. Gov. Bruce Rauner’s top political lieutenant, the man everyone calls “Z” who was most responsible for winning the 2014 Republican primary and the governor's former state chief of staff, simply had to resign late in the afternoon on Friday, July 14.

Today we look a bit north, to the wide expanse of prairie, to the first white settlement in Will County. Set the wayback machine for 1831, our destination is the grove of trees where Channahon, Wilmington, Florence and Jackson Township meet, better known as Reed's Grove.
The beginning of Jackson is documented in George Woodruff's book “The History of Will County, 1878.”

Hungover north of the border? Sounds like a job for the Bloody Mary.
What would you do if you were to find yourself nursing a hangover south of the border, and the Bloody Mary was not an option? Enter the Michelada, Mexico's beer-based, “hair of the dog” answer to the Bloody Mary.
Micheladas have been around as long as there have been tomatoes and beer, mixing the two flavors is by no means unique to Mexico. Where the Michelada takes a refreshing turn is when chile sauces, spices and who knows what else is added to the drink.